Color us intrigued by the promotional photos for Season 5, Episode 10 (”Fifty Shades of Grayson”) of The Vampire Diaries. In them, we see Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Aaron (Shaun Sipos) facing off in a Whitmore College classroom. Why is Damon confronting Elena’s newest friend? Are they fighting over Elena?

We’ve already seen Aaron and Elena (Nina Dobrev) bond over the loss of loved ones, but it seems they will be growing even closer in future episodes. In this promotional photo for Season 5, Episode 8 (“Dead Man on Campus”), we the two sharing a moment at a Whitmore College party. And, in the synopsis for Season 5, Episode 9 (“The Cell”), we learn that, “Elena grows so concerned about Damon that she turns to Aaron for help.” Could this be the blossoming of a new romantic prospect for Elena? We’re just saying...it’s a slippery slope.

For now, we actually think it is more likely that Damon’s confrontation of Aaron has something to do with a possible Elena disappearance. In this promotional photo for Episode 9, we see Elena and Enzo (an old friend from Damon’s past) strapped onto medical tables, presumably against their will. Do Damon and Stefan travel to Whitmore to find Elena, seeking out Elena’s Augustine Society-connected new friend to grill for information? Given that the title of the episode — “Fifty Shades of Grayson” — is a humorous reference to Elena’s father, Grayon Gilbert, who was involved with the Augustine Society, we have a feeling this episode will be more about uncovering the secrets of Elena’s family’s past than any duels for Elena’s heart. (Though, really, what is TVD if not an ongoing duel for Elena’s heart?)